Unfair for me to comment on your post bea because I'm so much further south. But, for what it's worth, I feel your discomfort. We are girding for some colder weather here also,..this morning as I ventured out onto my lanai at 07:15 AM, - it was only 53 degrees ! That's downright chilly for us spoiled brats hereabouts ! Gettin' my long sleeved T shirts out ! :o)

Don't want to tick anyone up there off, so will sign off here ! Bottom line however, I AM sympathetic !

I know what you mean Jo. It's all relative. I have friends up north stuck in 20 degree weather who think I'm joking when I complain about this. In actuality in my neck of the woods thirties during Dec/Jan is common.

High 30's at my farm this morning. Had a yard full of beautiful birds at all the feeders.

For all you gardeners, please consider helping out the birds in the winter.

Many birds don't make it through the winter without help from supplemental

feeders. Native seeds are gone and few insects around to feed others.

Mr good poInt. When we have a cold snap my feeders empty fast. But what my birds like most is the suet I make for them. Here is the recipe which I think I've posted somewhere here before. I use this year round but during the hot months I put smaller pieces out so they get used so fast they don't turn rancid.

ALL SEASON SUET RECIPE

1 cup Peanut Butter

1 cup shortening

2 cups Oats

1 cup flour

2 cups cornmeal

Melt peanut butter, then stir in remaining ingredients. Freeze. I use the small blue containers in which mushrooms are packaged. They are just the right size for a suet feeder.

I'm actually praying for a hard freeze here, but no joy this year. I want things to die back completely to make it easier to remove them and start over, but they just keep putting out new growth! Doesn't look like we're going below freezing any time soon.

Update: Now they are calling for 30 and 31 lows respectively on Tues. & Wed. It's usually a bit warmer here where I live, but I'll bring in the tenderest plants and cover the rest anyway.

Bea, is that rolled oats or whole oats you use? I'll have to try that. Thnx.

I put out sliced and chunked pcs. of fresh oranges on all my feeders yesterday

and was glad to see some little birds or squirrels (?) ate a lot of the pulp

and just left the rind.

I just got some new bird seed w/ raisins and fruit chunks in it. Also has a

variety of nuts and pcs. in it. The birds were all happy today!